Jaipur: A joint venture of The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has successfully busted a smuggling racket which resulted in recovery of 31 tons of beryl, an atomic mineral ore of Beryllium.

According to the reports of a leading newspaper, an FIR was registered under Section 14/24 of Atomic Energy Act, 1962 by the Superintendent of Police, ATS, Rajasthan Police, Jaipur on the written complaint of Regional Director, Western Region, AMD (Atomic Minerals Directorate), Jaipur. Six persons were caught. Charge-sheets were filed against the accused in the Court of the District Judge, Jaipur, on February 27.

This arrest was the result of information received by the DAE regarding the mineral’s illegal export through an anonymous letter in January.

About 10% of the country’s output of beryl — one of the ‘prescribed substances’ notified by the DAE under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 — comes from Rajasthan.

In October last year, a beryl consignment of 20 tones was suspected of having been smuggled to Hong Kong from Kandla Port in Gujarat.